NCJ Number
218955
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2007 Pages: 517-530
Date Published
May 2007
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the mid-life physical and mental health impact of childhood abuse among a population-based sample of men and women.
Abstract
Results indicated that the sibling respondents who reported experiencing childhood physical abuse were more likely than their non-abused peers to report more diagnosed illnesses, physical symptoms, anxiety, anger, and depression up to 40 years following the abuse. These results remained significant even after controlling for sex, age, family background, and childhood adversities. These findings are consistent with previous research that has found associations between childhood physical abuse and adult psychiatric problems. The findings are important because they begin to illuminate the mechanisms through which childhood maltreatment influences adult health. The new finding of increased anger among adults who suffered childhood physical abuse could indicate an additional mechanism through which childhood maltreatment might impact adult physical health. Future research should focus on how the long-term health effects of childhood maltreatment may differ for childhood sexual abuse and childhood emotional abuse Data were drawn from the sibling respondents of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), a population-based study of men and women who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957 and their siblings. A total of 4,804 siblings were interviewed via the telephone in 1977 and 1994 regarding education, occupation, family demographics, health, well-being, and aging. Mailed surveys, which focused on childhood physical abuse, mental health, physical health, family background characteristics, and childhood adversities, were also completed by 3,501 siblings in 1994. Statistical data analysis included the use of bivariate comparisons and logistic regression models. Tables, references